Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Meet the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025: Quake, GoldenEye 007, Defender, and Tamagotchi
- The BAFTA Games Awards Polled the Public and Shenmue is “The Most Influential Video Game of All Time”
- 2024 GOTY Scoreboard: Astro Bot, Balatro, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, More
- The Strong Museum of Play Acquires Prototypes and Development Documents from Volition’s 30-Year History
- Minecraft’s Volume Alpha Soundtrack Has Been Added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- Fight Club, The Game David Fincher Didn’t Want You To Play – Time Extension (2025)
- It’s beginning to feel like gaming isn’t for everyone – Digital Trends (2025)
- 22 years later, modders are keeping SimCity 4 alive – The Verge (2025)
- The B-movies of Paul W.S. Anderson double as acts of devotion to his muse, Milla Jovovich – The AV Club (2025)
- Breakout, Ripoff, Genre: How Fiction Outgrows Originality – Uncanny Magazine (2025)
Most Recent: Articles
Xbox Store Today: Shadow Warrior, Voice Commander
Did you know that Microsoft runs an internal group for “hackers, makers, artists, tinkerers, musicians, and inventors” known as the Microsoft Garage? And that this “community” of interns and employees has been given free reign to turn their “wild ideas” into workable applications?
If you own an Xbox One, you definitely know all about Microsoft Garage now. Several members of the development team got together to produce Voice Commander, a group game that combines real-time strategy with overhead shooting as eight players man controllers while the rest of the crowd controls the action with voice commands. Best of all, it’s free to download.
Also available for the Xbox One today is Shadow Warrior, Flying Wild Hog’s reboot of 3D Realms’ wild first person shooter of the same name. Lo Wang is back and he’s going to use “a masterful combination of gun, blade, magic and wit” to combat a demonic invasion.
More information about both games can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Shadow Warrior
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round will be released in February 2015
Koei Tecmo has announced that the third, and final, re-release of Dead or Alive 5 will be released in February. Dead or Alive 5: Last Round will be available on February 17 for the PS4 and Xbox One (as a digital download and a retail disc) and the PS3 and Xbox 360 (as a digital download only).
Last Round will also be available on the PS4 and Xbox One as a free-to-play version known as the “Core Fighters” edition. “Core Fighters” on the PS4 will launch with four fighters freely unlocked (Ayane, Hayate, Kasumi, and Ryu Hayabusa) with additional fighters, modes, and other features available as paid add-ons. The Xbox One edition will be expandable in the same way, but first players must purchase an extended character pack (including Hitomi, Tina, Jann Lee, and Bass) priced at $4.99.
For those looking to pre-purchase the entire game, Koei Tecmo will offer three pre-order packs through GameStop, Amazon, and Best Buy. GameStop will offer buyers the “Ninja Costume Pack” (for Ayane, Hayabusa, Hayate, and Kasumi) and the “Aloha Costume Pack” (for Ayane, Hitomi, Kasumi, and Mila). Amazon will give purchasers access to the “Showstopper Costume Pack” (for Christie, Helena, Lisa, and Tina) while Best Buy will offer the “Beach Party Costume Pack” (for Kokoro, Leifang, Momiji, and Rachel).
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round will be priced at $29.99 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 and $39.99 on the PS4 and Xbox One.
Outlast 2 announced by Red Barrels
Speaking to Bloody Disgusting, Red Barrels co-founder Philippe Morin confirmed that the development company is hard at work on Outlast 2.
Outlast 2 won’t return to the Mount Massive Asylum featured in Outlast, nor will it bring back that game’s star, Miles Upshur. Instead, Morin confirmed it will have “different characters and a different setting,” though it will be set in the same universe:
The game will be a survival horror experience and it will take place in the same universe as Outlast, but it will have different characters and a different setting. We might go back to Mount Massive Asylum one day, but for now we have new ideas and themes we’d like to explore and we think we’re cooking up something special.
It’s currently unknown what platforms it’ll be available for or when it’ll be released, but Morin says it might be a while: “We’re still a small indie studio (12 people), so we’ll need a little bit of time to ship our next game, but hopefully it will be worth it.”
UPDATE: VG247 is reporting that whenever Outlast 2 is released, it’ll be released simultaneously for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
GTA: San Andreas with Achievements, 720p visuals to be released for Xbox 360 next week
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas used to be available through the Xbox Games Store as part of Microsoft’s Xbox Originals initiative. When asked about its delisting, Rockstar revealed that it was removed because an Xbox 360-native version of San Andreas will be released on October 26.
This new version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, released to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the game’s PS2 debut, will include a 720p graphical upgrade, enhanced draw distance, and a full range of Achievements. However, owners of the Xbox Originals version of San Andreas will be chagrined to learn that their save file will not be compatible with the brand new Xbox 360 edition.
It’s currently unknown if Rockstar plans to bring this new version of San Andreas to the PS3.
I’m not sure, but this might be the most low-key game announcement ever. You can get a look at the full list of Achievements after the break and hopefully Rockstar will follow it up with enhanced re-releases of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Super Smash Bros. Wii U will include 8-player battles; Mewtwo DLC available in Spring 2015
Nintendo uploaded a new Nintendo Direct video earlier today all about Super Smash Bros. For Wii U. Nintendo’s “50-Fact Extravaganza” video revealed a ton of new details about the game including confirmation of a special 8-player battle mode. The unimaginatively titled “8-Player Smash” will allow up to eight players to battle it out in special larger arenas for the first time. For obvious reasons, this mode is only available locally, so I hope you can cram eight people onto your couch, because it sounds awesome.
Other “Facts” revealed today include:
Amiibo Figures: When a player touches an Amiibo figure to the Wii U GamePad, the character joins as a “figure player.” The Amiibo figures can gain levels to become stronger and add equipment as they gain experience through battling. Players can have Amiibo fight one another, and Amiibo will bring you presents from the battles they fight in.
Custom Stage Creation: The touch screen of the Wii U GamePad makes it easier than ever for players to build their own stages and eventually share them with friends and other players around the world using broadband Internet access.
Smash Tour: World Smash is a fighting party game that looks like a board game. Players use items, spin a wheel and advance around the map. Up to four players can compete at once as they navigate the board and gain fighters and power-ups they can use in a final battle.
Ridley. Yes, Ridley: Fans have been clamoring for Ridley to appear in a Super Smash Bros. game for a while, and now they’re getting their wish. But true to form, Ridley appears in an unexpected way. Players will find him in the Metroid series-inspired Pyrosphere stage, but he does more than just hassle players. If one player attacks Ridley enough, Ridley will join that fighter’s side and attack others. Players (including the one on Ridley’s side) can KO Ridley to earn a point toward the match result total. And if Ridley consumes enough energy, he will become Meta Ridley and all the more vicious.
Special Soundtrack Offer: Everyone who buys both the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U versions of Super Smash Bros. and registers both games on Club Nintendo by January 13 will receive a two-disc soundtrack of music from the games.
Finally, Nintendo confirmed today that Super Smash Bros. For Wii U’s roster will be expanded with downloadable fighters at a later date. The first character to be available will be Mewtwo, who will be available as a free download in Spring 2015 for players who purchase Smash Bros. Wii U and Super Smash Bros. For 3DS.
You can learn even more new “Facts” by watching the complete Nintendo Direct video, which is embedded above. And don’t forget, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U will be released on November 21.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
Nintendo Download: Bayonetta 1 + 2, Just Dance 2015, Fantasy Life, more
I think this may be one of the biggest weeks ever for Nintendo’s eShop… and it’s actually almost all due to Nintendo themselves. The consolemaker will release four games tomorrow: Platinum’s action sequel Bayonetta 2, the original Bayonetta, the RPG/life simulation mashup Fantasy Life, and the drawing game Pokemon Art Academy.
But this week will also see the release of…
- Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (3DS), the latest game in WayForward’s beloved platformer series (and another “Nindie” backed by Nintendo).
- KORG DSN-12 (3DS), the latest game in the music synthesizer series.
- Just Dance 2015 (Wii U), the newest game in Ubisoft’s dancing franchise.
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Wii U), one of the best Castlevania games to ever grace the Game Boy Advance.
- The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins (3DS), a strategy game based on the popular animated series.
- Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay (3DS), an action that takes place after the upcoming Disney film.
More details on all of these games (and a few others) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Bayonetta, Bayonetta 2, Just Dance 2015
Daily Scoop: October 23, 2014 – Gunpoint on sale for ridiculously cheap
That’s right, friends. Gunpoint is not just on sale, it’s on sale for a ridiculously small amount of money. It’s Steam’s Daily Deal, and it’s just $1.99. You can also get the Special Edition for $3.99 or the Exclusive Edition for $5.99, if you want even more awesomeness. Steam’s also got a new Weekend Deal, which is early access to The Forest on sale for $10.04.
The brand new Humble Weekly Bundle is called “Get Your Learn On.” Pay what you want for Type:Ride, Ludwig, and Crazy Plant Shop. Pay more than the average to get Sokobond and Influent + Language Pack. Pay $9 or more to unlock Contraption Maker and The Counting Kingdom.
Hit the jump to check out today’s t-shirts!
Posted in Daily Scoop
Sunset Overdrive launches next week… so here’s a launch trailer
Insomniac’s Sunset Overdrive launches next week, so now is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy the game’s launch trailer. The trailer hits a lot of the same beats as previous Sunset Overdrive trailers, but this one features projectile puking and a smug jackass getting punched in the face by a mutant. So give it a watch.
Sunset Overdrive will be available exclusively for the Xbox One next week on October 28. A special Sunset Overdrive system bundle (with a spiffy-looking white Xbox One) will also be available on the same day.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Sunset Overdrive